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Locates in Banner State.
Located in the heart of America's
banner state, Wells county and itf
capital lias developed with unusual
stability. They luivr .-tillered no
wave-like boonis, thai characterize
the building- and the .linking of most
now countries. Their growth has not
been nintish hut of the steady stub­
born and satisfying calibres. Hun­
dreds are the tales of success that the
many happy homes of Wells county
can tell. It is the home of eternal
prosperity.
Heal early history, is hard to find,
and the Tribune wishes to thank one
of Fessenden's ablest pioneers for
those little tales of early lif that we
give here.
Some Early History.
It was about the middle of
eighties, Wells county was not
organized. There was no county seat
hut the town of Skyeston on the
Pipestien, considered to be a county
seat. It had a number of men con­
sidered capable and willing to hold
all the oflices of ail organized county-
There was Charles Brown, the sta­
tion agent, who could keep books, Mr.
H. B. Chese. and his wife were work­
ing with a threshing crew not because
H. B. Chese was overly foiul of work,
but because it was about the only
means of a livelihood. He could write
a fair hand and could sling masterly
tu re.
Court House Was An Old Shack.
The court house was an old shack
converted out of a rough constructed
hotel into the seat, of government.
It contained two rooms. Three 'o
four offices in each room, where
sometimes the popularists were enter­
tained with pugilistic programs.
It was reported that H- B. Chese,
county judge, and John A. Williams,
clerk of the court, were on one oc­
casion the star actors in a fistic com-
Former Scene
Early Day Scene—Ncrth side of business scction. taken from court hcuse fifteen years ago.
ii«5,
A..
Tribune Ovcrlandeis
KeK.sendeti lias what the world
wants. Fesscivlen i.s not a metropolis.
It has not the maK.n^s of a tea thou­
sand horse-power city. The glare ol
a glowing Broadway. the quacking
Hash of sliding trolleys, and a thou­
sand find one other common ihiufi
that are unseen realtities of roaring
cities, are lacking. Bat Fessenden
has what tliey have not. Here is
found what makes the nothfrs heart,
happy, what creates those .smiles tha
plant the crow feet of success around
the husband's eyes, and what every
growing commonwealth longs, strives,
and fights to propose.
hat. That was late in the evening
and neither of the actors was suffi­
ciently sober to carefully note his op­
ponent's injuries. Hut after the com­
bat H. 1!. Chose tongue was still ac­
tive and unbridled and down in
Wikee's store he run into another
fistic incounter with tlio honorable A,
('. Sanford. Believing man a tool us.
ing animal, .Mr. Sanford at once per­
ceived to seize upon the scale weights
of the store, and rapidly put himself
to work knocking holes in the honor
oble judge's head. The^judge's brains
see 11 deeply buried or all together
absent and hence were not wasted,
spilled or injured, altho his head was
woefully uneven and decorat .1 with
.several buffalo wallows.
Sanford Never Went to Heaven.
The liexl morning the judge appear­
ed in his oilier lo meet John A. Wil­
liams. the honorable clerk of court
wiiit whom he had the fistic combat.
He begged to apologize. "Von go to
I leaven," said Chese, "it takeS a bet­
ter man than you to break the sod on
,uy head
In 1.S!I2 the Soo lin- was built across
Wells county and Fessenden became
the center station and I he uspirent
for ihe new county seat. By a vote
of ninety-four it carried and the same
night when the votes were counted
at live o'cloc'iv .here was a general
rejoicing until ten o'clock, when, the
moving of the court house was begun,
the A large number of Fessenden knights,
yet I about fifty in number. with wagons,
crowbars. and other engines of power,
began the transportation. This is
known in th^. Skyetion legends as the
"Court House Theft." In 18!-~ the
present brick court house at Fessen
den was erected. In ISlhJ Fessenden
was supposed to be a county seat,
with a court hotise and tlio other re­
quirements of a first class city with
one exception and that was a ceme­
tery. What they were to do about
this requirement the citizens debated
on all corners. Nobody was willing
1
to die for the city, no deathly diseases
phrases with his tongue and go would enter its healthful gates. anJ
through such gymnastic* as was j'all real bad men gave it a wide, circ.e.
thought might be required for a conn- But. at last to fill this vacancy a blind
ty judge to perform.
Knew Two Trades.
There was John A. Williams. He
was a carpenter and shoe-maker, but live men was proclaimed complete.
had been justice of peace and was
reported to have held a position in
the Michigan prison somewhat infer­
ior to a warden- He was_thouiht !o
make a good clerk of court, and so
the ball was rolling a:ul rolled
around and Sykeston became county
seat of Wells county. Prior to that
date the area covered by this new
county, was called Gingras
c0"n.ty
which was created January •!, ISTo.
"Wells county was organized January
24, 1884.
D. T. Davis, afterwards Senator
Davis was Wells county's first treas
pigger named |)utch Frisz was unlaw­
fully murdered and a ceiirjterv was
started and this thriving city of real
As Overianders Saw It.
Wells county as we found if. and
its possibilities as the Overianders
saw tliem would fill a largo size book,
but we will let the propective buyer
of Wells county land travel to this
countiy of opportunities and see those
bargains for himself. Those few facts
taken from the county auditors re
port to the state agricultural depart
ment will satisfy the rest of the peo­
ple. There are 1252 farms in the
six townships that composes Wells
county,
which contain 581.817 acres.
During the season just past this acre'
ura. Plinn Woodworth was first.'ago produced 1.."84,720 bushels of
states attorney, L. A. Wattlin was one wh-at, 187.!)!):: bushels of flax, 306,914
of the early county commissioners bushels of barley, and -1,168,016 bush
and A. C. Sanford was one of the els of oats. The other varied small
pioneer members of the state legisla- grain that the county grows amounts
I ..... i. 11* '1
it t«n /\1
Present Flower Garden.
to over half a million bushels.
Corn a Successful crop.
Corn is a successful crop in Wells
county when subjected to the same
system of cultivation as employed
in the regular corn growing states.
During the season of 1912.'6814 acres
of corn was grown, and from all re­
ports a much larger crop has been
planted thi3 year. A number of silos
lias ben erected and the farmers ate
rapidly adding dairying as a side line
to their agricultural work. This sec­
FESSENDEN
Note the change.
tion of this prosperous state will
soon be counted amongst the great
dairy districts of the United States.
Old Shacks a Thing of Past.
With such surroundings, as Wells
county offers it is no wonder that
Fessenden .has daveloped into one of
the coming cities of the state. Since
the completion of^the Soo through
Uio tliiMvincr nn TYI 111
rill WHO 111l In 1S0"2
this thriving commonwealth in 189
few communities has witnessed such
a prosperous development. The city
has changed from a pine shack town
into one of stately business-like-look­
ing brick blocks with great plate
glass windows replacing those that
use to line the small crowded stores
of yesterday. The Connor Hotel, a
first class hoTOfi for the travelers, with
the other large brick blocks add to
the afmosphere of a ten thousand
populated eastern city to this capital
of Wells county.
Plenty of Bouquets
is that pretty vase of roses that used
to set on the center of mother's table,
but where are they going to get those
daily bouquets that the flower man use
to bring every morning. The people
of Fessenden dont have to look far,
within their midst is one of the finest
greenhouses to be found in ine state.
Mr. R. Oleson, the florist and land­
scape gardener, who has charge ol
this palace of roses can supply them
with anything in cut flowers or floral
design at very short notice. Mr. Ole­
son also supervises the children's
work in the large school garden which
this city designs in honor of the Soo
railroad each year. Fessenden i?
proud of the Soo and this garden and
the establishment that cares for it.
Here are the men who make thiu
city, and the business which they
operate. Meet them through the Tri
bune. and know them as your friends.
The first question asked by the
str
on
ranger or the prospector or
v'ng in a town or city is. How
many banking institutions have you
tmvtfrtit
'ii/^ 1
ieart10 win
«lll feel proud In in,nan. tl.o informal
ly left to the so-called rich, today the
ing marked with the exact amount of
money deposited, and accorded the
BISMARCK DAILY TRIBUNE
,tour banking institutions of the Unit
ed States to dqvelop property of ev
ery description, from the small city
rental to the large corporations that
employ thousands,of men, bread win­
ners, home diakeffi, men with sturdy
offspring to give a modern and prac
ttea 1 education, an opportunity for ad­
vancement in whatever vocation tliey
wish to follow, perfecting themselves
into masters of their craft. Toda?
we visit the public school and view
with satisfaction the change from yes­
terday io today. We find the child of
fod:iy clean and neat with a suit or
frock good enough for Sunday school.
Why the change from yesterday!
When the overall, the little suit, or
apron that wa3 not good enough lot'
Sunday was good enough for school.
We can only answer the question in
one way, "Thrift," taught by the
great banking institutions of our laud
that have accepted the small earnings
of the day wage earner, the washer­
woman, the salaried man, and the old
adage, "a dollar saved is a dollar
cafliod."
Oldest Bank in County.
The Wells County ..State Bank, the
oldest bank in the county, has. ,ie
sources of $238,175.24. The manage
ment of this institution aims to do
everything for their customers, and
earnestly invites you to open an ac­
count- They have safety deposit box­
es for rent in their new and modern
safety deposit vault. The officers of
this bank are as follows: G. L.
Beiseker, president C.
A.
.....
,...
Beisiker,
vice president U. M. Thompson,
'cashier. The officers constitute the
directors and men of years of banking
experience.
One of the Strongest.
unc VI UIC
The inhabitants of new counties
forget the little things that were con
sidered part of their daily lif- in'.^he as the large. 15- F. Volkmann, casn
settled east when they become mjrt I ier, was formerly with the Wei»s, lars. .....
SOO LINE FLOWER GARDEN, CREATED BY CITIZENS
courteous and intelligent service. I Up-to-Date Msrket.
Please remember that it is the desire Fessenden can boast of having one
of this bank *to alv/avs conduct its of the most up-to-date meat markets
business in the best interests of thosff in the Northwest. This popular mar
it serves. The officers of this bank kel is conducted by W. F. Hunt. Mr.
of this great broad expanding tfek- Irm.nfv Rank, leaving there in 1909 that Fessenden, was good enough _fo,claim as just, as to boinj, an old stt
une of the first things that
call when they regain their
prudent management by Mr. Volk­
mann. A. J. Volkmann, president W.
A. Volkmann, vice president, E. F.
Volkmann, cashier, J. H. Larson, 1st
assistant cashier, F. J. Timmer 2nd
assistant cashier.
Another Good Bank.
The First National Eank, the eld­
est National bank in the county, was
organized July 7th, 1900- The follow­
ing men are officers of the bank: H.
Thorson, president Otto Bremer,
vice president H, Ingraldson, cash­
ier, George J. Merches, assistant
cashier. An acquaintance with any or
all of the men connected with this in­
stitution will convince anyone as to
their sincerity and adherence to the
best of banking, rules. Mr. Thorson
has been a citizen of this state for
thirty years atid has contributed his
ability and efforts in helping to de
vq|gp the territory paralleling the
Mr. Bremer is one of the most
cttc
Y' men"^" the "north-"
wegt bging coimected
banki
here? If the community supports banking
three banks, the citizen or property rasWer of thi3 in-
Ganswe*/6and stltution
tovn ill answer mid ut i«i' .i. rpi Kn«i/s in th)Q
S a
best institutions in the country," and "1 'u
11
millionaire and his washerwoman! Young Man of Judgment.
may stand in line with their deposit George ,T. Merches. formerly of the
books, the former with dollars anJ ThorSon bank at Enderlin, N. D-, is a
the latter with dimes, both books be- y0UUg
with numer-
institutions in the Twin
has been' connected for years
auuar
y. He is
t( (t
,,loW5
nian 0r
SO
al
T"""ty
10
practical judgment,
Mnd ideas, and ability equal to a
man
of
twice
his
age,
sane courtesy, and a pleasant "Thank terialthat the good old State of North fight and the prices are right.
you." Dakota welcomes to her cities and be right and order today. Don't for
HeWte e* Thrift the Cause. broad prairies.
The
The habit of saving in the last institution are over $287,000, sufficient High Qrade Bopts and Shoef,
generation has made it possible for guarantee to the prospective custo-. For high grade boots and shoes,
mer or depositor.
The Conner Hotel is one
most modern establishments of its for the practical
at thVv re- to open the present institution, which' him and when it. comes to boosting tier- In connection to the drug busi
,ir balance has advanced rapidly through the one will have to go some to pass Mr. 1 j^ss^Mr. Konuu.sen
Hunt in tliatt line.
-Thirty years in the practice of law
has made Plinn H. Woodward the
oldest attorney in Fessenden, coming through
there in the early days when hard
ships were numerous and pleasant­
ries few. Mr. Woodward then advo-
settled in Fessenden in 1893.
T. L. J3eiseker, president C. H.
Bishop, secretary and treasurer ver­
niers Trust Cotapany, capital 1100,
OOO.CO, first mortgage farm loans,
Fessenden, North Dakota.
Don't forget E. H. A. Uoemiiild,
when contemplating tli- purchase of
the kind of ma- that new suit, material right, fits
retources of this get the place, E. H. A. Roetnhildi
Located in a banner countyy it holds out many
inducements ta home
seekers and
business men
^|,t
1
kind in the state. Here you are al-1 best of quality in all makes. Every
The Farmers Bank of Fessenden is ways made welcome as a gue3t and: pair guaranteed or your dollars bacR.
one of the strongest banks in the provided with the best of eatables, One of the best shoe repairing shops
countv having resources amounting I that can be obtained and a bed equal in connection. Those cats-claw-ruB
to $129,397.31. The officers of thisj to any in the state, J. A. and J. D. ber heels, try a pair. No slip
bank aim to give each customer Conner, proprietors. Oh! that good meal at the
I at tl 17 KAMir ln .. in Cml/lill' Hlf
•ire" men that follow the most string* Hunt, entered into the livestock and ed this thriving business
ent banking rules, extending a wel- meal business in 1892. The average 1900, carrying a complete si
come to the small depositor the same yearly aSKis-of meats amount to be-1 $10,000. Mr. Romansen was
'tween thirty and, forty thousand dol-1 postmaster of Willow City, N. D„ in
SR^Hunt made the statement the early eighties and we consider his
i"
A ...
Church Square—From left to right, German Baptist church school house, now twice the size werman Congre­
gational church in backflrpund, and tnglish Congregational church and parsonage at rign
the City Shoe store has just what tunity to serve his many customers
of the you want. A trial will be sufficient Mr. Brown is one ot the laigest st
of its for the practical man and family- The holders in ."Boosts for *essentl®n,1
Conner
Hotel. Every day is Sunday there.
Headquarters i'or first class drugs,
stationery, rubber goods, pianos, your
prescriptions filled promptly and cor­
rectly. Mr. C. ('. Uoniaiisen estiiblsh
bere in
stock of
formerly
...
Krit, and other machines.
Busy Elevator Company
The Regan & byness Elevator Com
pany, a local institution, was estab­
lished by local men and controlled by
them. J. Austin Regan, president Wi
\V. Lyness, secre^-.ry and treasurer,
Mr. Lyness has managed the business,
for a number of years and says the
outlook for this year's crop, will be
double the amount bought last year,
'ifnd this company bought over 100,
000 bushels of grain in 1912. They
organized this company in 1396.
Louis A. Lew, the popular druggist,
:is completing his fourteenth year as
a resident of Fessenden. You will
find Mr. Lew has one of the leading
establishments of its kind in the
Lew thinks there is no place like the
good old state of iSortli Dakota. Mr.
Lew has been here a sufficient length
of time to feel satisfied that this state
is the best.
Established Ten Years Ago.
The Zuber-Engbucht Land & Loan
Company, established fen years ago.
has continued to grow financially and
1
in popularity. It i3 capitalized at.
$25,0-00. The company handles first
mortgage loans, insurance and collec
tions. Land is bought and sold. Pre
vious to entering into this business
the firm was in the general mercan­
tile business. Their adage has been
business.
Established Twenty Years Ago.
The James K. S\van mercantile
cated the growth and future prosper- store was established in Fessenden
ity of the city of Fessenden and com-1twenty years ago on a much smaller
munity and has continued to serve scale than it is conducted today. To
the people that have entrusted their,day tfoe stock consists of the choicest
grievances to him. Mr. Woodward is, merchandise to be found in the coun-
a gentleman and all that the word ty, amounting to ?20,000. Mr. Swan's
Implies
Success Due to Fair Treatment.
«r 11 41. took a partner, making him manager
Mr. F. W. Schlechter, the merchant,
yearly sales have averaged close to
$10,000. Four years ago Mr. Swan
took a partner, makin
Jlr A recl
fcrown'
Mr.
Schlechter's success in the general
merchandise, business is due to the
fact that fair treatment, a square,
deal, and honesty.
Oldest in Locality.
1
ells County Abstract Company is
the oldest Abstract companv in this
locality. Abstracts are guaranteed by
10,000 surety bond. ihis company
sponsibility $75,00(5. This** company
is acknowledged to be the leading
company of its kind in the county,
with modern prices prevailing. D.
Engbriclit and A. V. Zuber, the prin­
ciples, are always there when it
comes to Pessendeli's welfare. We
know. They told us a fow facts.
a
gentleman con
tinually cn. iao outlook for an oppor-
in. vA
1
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1»1X
Patronize home industry and tne
Krueger Elevator -Company, dealers
in grain and coal. Capital of $20,000
grain bought for this last year 7u,
000 bushels. You are always sure
of a square deal. Mr. Carl Kreugsr,
manager, is a live wire, always intei
ested fn the welfare of his many cus­
tomers. A trial will convince you.
Largest Store in County.
The largest store in Wells county
is located at Fessenden established
in 18!).". When you buy anything
from the Viking store you may be cer­
tain it is the best to be had. A full
and complete stock of general mer­
chandise, hardware and furniture,
amounting to over $7'".000 and aver­
age yearly sales of $150,000. When
customers buy continually from a
place it gives the proprietor the sat­
isfaction of knowing that he is pleas­
ing and carrying the kind of goods
that the public wants. The proprie­
tor of the Viking Store, Mr. Tim an
E. Cuarne, is a man of ability and
energy. Proof enough of this fact
is shown by the mammoth establish­
ment conducted by him. Every citi­
zen of Fessenden and comunity will
acknowledge that this mail's business
principles are without a flaw.
Popular Grain and Coal Man.
J. h. Garver, the popular grain and
coal man, holds his own when it
comes to buying grain, having bought
close to 150,000 bushels for the sea­
son of 1912. Mr. Garver has the en­
ergy of a dozen men and is contin-
county. A stock consisting of the ually on the alert for business and is
best drugs, stationery, toilet articles,
[and prescriptions a specialty. Mr.
another shareholder in "Boosts for
Fessenden."
Always Full of News.
Don't forgot to renew that subscrip­
tion to the Wells County Free Press,
the newiest newspaper in the county,
work of first quality done in a com­
plete job printing oilice and satisfac­
tion guaranteed. C. M. Briton, editor
and manager is one of' the leading
newspaper men in the state, knowing
lc
business from A to Z.
Cue of the longest records of being
at one station, with any one elevator
company is held by L. W. Crissman,
manager of the Osborn-McMillan Ele­
vator Company at Fessenden having:
completed his seventeenth year and is
'Where there is a will there is a way." now starting on to the next mile
and have succeeded. stone. In connection with grain, Mr.
The Soo Hotel in Fessenden has I Crissman will supply your wants with
stood for good meals and the bestljtour and coal, keeping nothing but
of beds for the past fourteen years.
Amnia Brocker opened the Soo House
and made it a home place for all who
stop and appreciation is shown
the continual increase in
the best grades.
The Conner Hotel is the right place
when you are hungry or wanting a.
bed just like mother used to tuck you
in. The best on the Soo.
The Village Blacksmith.
For first class blacksinithing go to
Burton L. Knowles, a man with, years
of experience in the trade and a mas­
ter. General smithing, horse shoeing,
and automobile repairing a specialty.
Mr. Knowles has the lastest machin­
ery to doctor the best of cars with.
Yo
6
ur horse will want to run away af
ter being shod at this up-to-date shop.
Whenever you find a branch of 'he
Langworthy Lumber Company you
(Continued on Page o)
N a a a a E a